Last.



G. W. SAMPSON.

LAST.

AE'PLIOAIION FILED NOV. 2?, 1908.

V 1 ,O24=,600. Patented Apr. 30; 1912.

was-6W 44% ck A length of the last.

nnirno srnrns Parana? who MACHINERY COMPANY, JERSEY.

GEORGE "W. SAMPSON, F WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE OF PATERSGN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW LAST.

Application filed November 2?, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SAnIrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at li hitman, in the county of Plymouth and Commonwealth of li lassachusetts, have 1nvenled certain Improvement-s in Lasts of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, 1s a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to lasts.

As is well-lrnown in a number of the operations incident'to the mannfacture of boots and shoes the strains to which the last is subiected are borne to a considerable ex.- tent by the heel part of the last and the strains in the direction of the height of the last tending to crush and destroy the heel part particularly heavy.

Accordingly an objectof the present 1nvention is to adapted to withstand the severe strains imposed upon the heel parts of the lasts in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

With this object in View a feature of the present invention consists in the provision hf a last in which a reinforcing member is inserted from the rear of the last. The reinforcing member may be mounted upon a jack post and provided with the usual opening for receiving the spmdle carried by the jack post as is common in this art. In accordance with a convenient construction the last may be provided with a slot extending in the direction of the height of the last and opening outwardly from its heel part and the reinforcing member may be formed to be inserted in said slot in the direction of the By inserting the reinforcing member from the rear end of the last a greater latitude in the form of the member is permitted than where it is inserted in the direction of the height of the last. For example in lasts embodying the present invention the reinforcing member may be provided with a top plate and a heel plate which may be permanently secured to the body portion of said member prior to its insertion within the last. Where the top plate and heel plate are secured to the body portion of the reinforcing men'iber prior to the insertion of the latter within the last a very strong construction may be obtained, and if desired the said plates may Specification of Letters Patent.

' be reniova-bly provide a last which shall be,

Patented Apr. 39, 18 12. Serial No. 464,558.

be made integral with said member. The reinforcing member may secured within the wooden body of the last by any suitable means A. sists in the provision of a block for receiving tacks or other fastenings which is remove ably secured within the rear portion of the reinforcing member in such manner that it may be removed in a direction transverse of the member when the latter is withdrawn from the last. In the present device the block is of wood and is held in position by engagement with the walls of the slot in the heel part of the last so that when the reinforcing member is withdrawn from the last a worn-out block may be easily removed and a new block substituted.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described in' the specification and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a last embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the reinforcing member removed from the body of the last.

In the drawings, 2 represents the body of the last which is provided with a slot extcnding from the cone to the sole and open mg rearwardly from its heel part. A metallic reinforcing member comprising a top plate 4, a heel plate 6 and a connecting member 8 is adapted to be inserted in the heel part of the last in the direction of the length of the last. To this end the connecting member 8 is in the form of a plate which has a width slightly less than the width of the slot so that it may be inserted therein and has a length such that the top plate 4 and heel plate 6 may be respectively positioned in engagement with the cone and sole of the last said plate is inserted in said slot. The connecting member 8 is preferably integral with the top plate and heel plate. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the top and bottomof the last are recessed at the heel part so that the top plate 4 and heel plate (3 may lie flush with the top and bottom surface of the last when the reinforcing member is inserted within the last. The reinforcing member may be mounted upon a jack post in the usual way andis provided with an opening for receiving the spindle of the jack post s is common. in the art.

A fastenin receiving blo 10, which is preferably further feature of the invention con-' led of wood," is removably the body portion ofi secured in the rear end of the plate 8. In the present construction the block 10 issecured in place by a dove-tailed connection in such manner that the block may be removed in a direction transverse of the plate when the reinforcing member is removed from the last. The block is substantially the Width oi the plate 8 so that when said plate is inserted in the slot in the last lateral displacement of said block is prevented by the walls of the slot. The reinforcing member is removablv secured Within the last as by means of bolts 12. One of the bolts is preferably located near the rear end of the last, and in the construction shown the rearmost bolt extends through an opening let in the block 10 and assists in. se curel fastening said block in place.

it will be noted in the construction shown that not only is'the reinforcing member constructed to Withstand strains in the dire 'on of the height of the last but as the top and heel plates closely engage the top and bottom of the Wooden portion of the last the reinforcing member is also adapted to eliectively resist strains imposed upon the last such as would tend to rotate it about its lon tudinal axis.

ll making the top plate and heel plate integral with the body portion of the reinforcing member a much cheaper and :-;li.'( nge1 constructicm is obtained than Where plates are secured to the body porthe said lion by separate fastening devices.

Although the reinforcing member is herein described as being composed of metal it will however be understood that it may be made of any suitable material that is adapted to give the necessary strength to the heel part of the last.

Having described my invention, what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Let tiers l atcnt oil the United States is:-

1. A last having a slot extending through its hcel part in the direction of the height oi the last, andbpening rcarwardly therefrom, and a reinforcing member positioned in said slot, said member having a spindle receiving opening therein and being as thin at any point as is the slot behind said point, whereby said member may be inserted in the slot from the rear of the last.

2. A last having a slot extending from the cone to the sole and opening i-ear ivardly 'l'rom its heel part, a metallic reinforcing member constructed and shaped to be insorted in said slot in the direct-ion of the length of the last, said member having integral top and heel plates engaging the top and bottom of the last and having a spindle receiving opening therein, and means for securing said member in the last. I

3. A last having a slot extending from the cone to the sole and opening rearwardly from its heel part. and having its upper and lower edges beveled, a reinforcing member shaped to fit snugly Within said slot and to be inserted from the rear ofthe last, said member having top and bottom plates integral therewith to engage the top and bottom of the last and a fastening receiving plug positioned in said member.

4. The combination in a last having a slot extending from the cone to the sole and opening rearwardly from its heel part, of a metallic body, comprising a top plate a heel plate and a connecting member, constructed to be inserted in said slot in the direction of the length of the last, With a fastoning receiving block secured in the rear end of said connecting member arranged tor engagement with the walls of the slot and to be removed in a. direction transverse of said member whensaid body is withdrawn from the last.

The combination in a last having a. slotcxtending "from the cone to the sole and opening rearwardly from its heel part 0i a metallic body comprising a top plate a heel plate and a connecting member constructcdto be inserted in said slot in the direction of the length of the last, and a laslening receiving block removably secured in the rear end of said connecting member and held in position by engagement with the walls of said slot.

(3. A last having a slot formed therein, a reintorcing plate positioned in said slot, and a fastening receiving block located in a re ccss in the plate and held against movement by the 'alls of the recess in all directions but that transverse to the greatest dimension of the plate said block being held against movement in the latter direction by the walls of the slot. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of t \\'o subscril'iing Witnesses.

Geo. N. Gonnon Jenn It. Snvcmm; 

